Logitech Wireless Rechargeable Touchpad T650 Review

Microsoft literally changed the face of Windows with the release of Windows 8, a touch friendly operating system that invites you to get hands-on with computing. Where things get interesting is trying to take full advantage of Windows 8 on a desktop. To do that, you need a touchscreen monitor. Or do you?

Logitech's Wireless Rechargeable Touchpad T650 (just "T650" from here on out) is a sleek and effective answer to how you can best utilize the features in Windows 8 without also plunking down a wad of cash on a new monitor.

The T650 is essentially a giant touchpad with support for gestures. It allows you to interact with Windows 8 (or Windows 7, if you prefer) in a more natural way compared to using a standard mouse. The Charms menu, for example, is a quick swipe away, and you can perform other baked in functions with the T650, like swipe through open applications.

Should you retire your rodent in favor the T650? Our hands-on impression continues right after a quick rundown of the specs:

Compatible with Windows 8, Windows RT, and Windows 7

Wireless design (charges via USB)

13 customizable gestures

5.9 x 5.7 x 1.3 inches; 8.8 ounces

3-year warranty

$70 street

What We Liked:

Silky Smooth Operation: The T650 has a large, glass touch area that feels slightly slippery to the touch, in a good way. You don't want a ton of friction interfering with finger swipes, especially if you're navigating longer distances on the desktop. Our fingers were able to glide comfortably on the ultra-smooth surface, just like a high quality touchpad on a notebook, only much bigger.

Size Matters: A large surface area helps to pull off different gestures, and the T650 obliges with plenty of space. It measures 5.9 inches x 5.7 inches, giving you plenty of room to navigate your fingers and roam the Windows UI. That's especially important if you're rocking a high resolution 27-inch or 30-inch monitor.

Resists Fingerprints: Most touch devices are fingerprint magnets. Tablets, for example, tend to accumulate finger smudges after just a little bit of use, and so do many touchscreen monitors. That's not really a problem with the T650. Only a few smudges were faintly visible after lots of use, and those were easily removed with a quick wiping.

It's All About the Gestures: To get the most out of Windows 8, you really need a touch interface, and that's exactly what the T650 provides. We had no trouble executing more than a dozen gestures specific to Windows 8, such as bringing up the Charms menu and switching back and forth between the desktop and tiled UI. You can also use the T650 with Windows 7, though it's much better utilized in Windows 8.

What We Didn't Like:

Expensive: Street pricing for the T650 is around $70, or about the same as a high quality gaming mouse. It's a pricey investment, albeit well worth it if the only alternative is to buy a new monitor or PC.

Learning Curve: There's a bit of a learning curve when going from a standard mouse to a touchpad, especially with so many gestures to memorize. Once you get used to the T650, it feels totally natural to navigate Windows, but until then, it's a bit awkward to perform tasks that you normally would use a standard mouse to execute.

Our Verdict:

Logitech's Wireless Rechargeable Touchpad T650 helps you wield Windows 8 like a boss, even if you don't have a touchscreen monitor. In fact, it can save you from purchasing one or having to upgrade your PC (if, for example, you own an all-in-one with a non-touch display) by giving you access to the same gestures and swipe controls regardless of whether you own a touch-capable monitor or not.

The T650 has a large surface area, it's smooth to the touch, and is arguably more convenient than extending your arm towards your monitor. There's a learning curve at first, but after a few sessions, it starts to feel natural.

Perhaps the toughest sell is the price. The T650 is a $70 (street) peripheral that's not essential to using Windows 8. That's more expensive than what some gaming mice sell for, and make no mistake, you're not going to frag on this thing.

So, is it worth it? We think it is, provided you're running Windows 8. There's not much to entice Windows 7 users, but for Microsoft's newest OS, the T650 makes it much easier to manipulate the tiled interface than with a standard mouse and keyboard combo.